The family of a man, who was caught in cross fire between Police and his relatives at Faleatiu during a drug bust in May 2012, want closure.
Sami Rapi Lelevaga died from a bullet wound to the head, according to confirmed reports following the incident.
But the family is still hurting. Sami’s aunty, Mugi Satui Talimatasi P Faisauvale, claims their family has never received any information regarding what has become of the investigation.
She claims overseas experts had visited their family land several times after the death.
But there “has never been any response from Police regarding what the conclusion of the investigation was”.
Mugi was referring to New Zealand forensics experts who came to Samoa especially to conduct an investigation into whether the bullet that killed Semi was from a police weapon or other.
According to reports released by the media at the time, the investigation by the New Zealand Forensics experts was completed in June 2012.
But, 20 months later, the disappointed and concerned Mugi family are still waiting for answers.
“What we want to know is whether there was ever any investigation, what the findings were and will anyone be charged for my nephew’s death,” said Mugi.
She claims there have never been any attempts by Police to release any details to them regarding the conclusions of this matter.
But she is adamant they should have been informed. “He was a matai that served the family, the village, and he was a husband and father”.
His wife continues to live alone with their children at their home and she continues to carry the burden of what really happened on that day.
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“That is why we want to know about the findings of the Police investigations – we want to know what really did happen - the truth.” Mugi recalls that morning in May that year.
“I was contacted by family at Faleatiu about the raid,” she said.
Living at Fasitoo at the time, she rushed over to Faleatiu with her husband to find out what was going on. Just when they arrived at the village a vehicle carrying the injured Police sped past them.
The shoot out left three Police injured and her nephew dead.
She claims that he might have been looking out from a hole in the house his body was found in when he was killed by a flying bullet.
“I remember how Police were waving us down to stop from driving into where the shoot out happened but it was our family land and we kept driving.
“We didn’t stop and when I got out of the car the first question from me was who has been injured?”
Mugi claims her family had an urgent meeting straight after that incident.
They discussed the events of that incident “and I told them nothing else should come up after this – no trouble”.
But her family is concerned about her dead nephew’s wife and children.
“It has been very difficult for her and the children and we provide most of the care any way we can for them.
“The most concerning thing was his (the deceased) youngest was only 5 months when he died.”
His wife has had to bring up all five children on her own.
Yet, “no one has been charged, we haven’t been approached by Police about an outcome of the investigation.
“All we want is closure – some kind of indication from Police of the truth of what happened there that early morning.”
Receiving no word from Police about the matter has for the family meant things “have been covered up”.
Acting Commissioner Fauono Talelei Tapu could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Sami Rapi Lelevaga has also been referred to in media reports as Togia Rapi Lelevaga and Togia Rapi Isalei.
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